Technical Content List for ChE 201

Mastery

Without referring to notes or text, a student completing ChE 201 should be able to:

·         Sketch a process flow diagram from a process description.

·         Specify a "system" or "control volume".

·         Explicitly define the reference state used for energy calculations in every problem.

·         Specify a hypothetical process path to change materials from one state to another.

·         Recognize the following as units of energy: BTU, ft-lbf, cal, J.

·         Recognize the following as units of power: hp, W.

·         Define adiabatic.

·         Distinguish between internal energy and enthalpy.

·         Distinguish between flow work and shaft work.

·         Identify the type of energy associated with each term in the mechanical energy balance equation as written in the text.

·         State that a gas releases energy when it is compressed, and requires energy to expand.

·         Define saturated and superheated, and recognize saturated or superheated gases in a process.

·         Read thermodynamic data from a steam table (or similar table for gases other than water).

·         Define relative and absolute humidity.

·         Recognize flowing streams in a process . . .

o        Note that kinetic energy changes may be involved.

o        Question whether they are significant for this process.

o        Calculate kinetic energy changes using mv2/2.

·         Recognize changes in level/altitude in a process . . .

o        Note that potential energy changes may be involved.

o        Question whether they are significant for this process.

o        Calculate gravitational potential energy changes using mgh.

·         Recognize temperature change in a process . . .

o        Note that there is an energy change.

o        Decide to use a "steam table" to calculate it for real gases.

o        Identify heat capacity as the required data to calculate it for solids, liquids, ideal gases.

o        Write DH = integral(CpdT) or DU = integral(CvdT), where H and U are specific enthalpy and specific internal energy.

·         Recognize pressure change in a process . . .

o        Note that there is an energy change.

o        Question whether it is significant for these substances in this process.

o        Use a "steam table" for real gases.

·         Recognize mixing or changes in solution concentration in a process . . .

o        Note that there is a change in chemical and perhaps physical composition.

o        Note that there is an energy change.

o        Question whether it is significant for these substances in this process.

o        Identify the heat of mixing/solution as the required data to calculate it.

·         Recognize phase change in a process . . .

o        Note that there is a change in physical composition.

o        Note that there is an energy change.

o        Identify the heat of vaporization/fusion/etc. as the required data to calculate it.

·         Recognize chemical reaction in a process . . .

o        Note that there is a change in chemical and perhaps physical composition.

o        Note that there is an energy change.

o        Identify the heats of reaction/formation as the required data to calculate it.

·         Order the following according to the amount of energy typically involved: changes in kinetic energy, changes in gravitational potential energy, phase changes, changes in temperature, changes in pressure, chemical reactions.

·         Write material and energy balance equations that describe steady-state chemical processes involving chemical reaction, combustion, mixing, solutions, pressure change, temperature change, phase change, and/or two-component phase equilibrium.

·         Use signs consistently in equations to indicate energy increase or decrease in a system.

·         Explain the purpose of heat exchangers, condensers, boilers, flash tanks, evaporators, crystallizers, distillation columns, liquid-liquid extraction columns, reactors, pumps, turbines, and compressors.

Accomplishment

Given access to texts/references, a student completing ChE 201 should be able to:

·         Analyze steady-state chemical processes that involve chemical reaction, combustion, mixing, solutions, pressure change, temperature change, phase change, and/or two-component phase equilibrium using the conservation equation "In - Out + Generation = Accumulation".

·         Use Raoult’s Law and Antoine coefficients and T-x,y diagrams to analyze chemical processes involving partial vaporization or partial condensation, including systems with non-condensible components.

·         Complete calculations in English or metric units.

·         Calculate Cv from Cp for solids, liquids, and ideal gases.

·         Estimate the heat capacity of a mixture from the heat capacities of the pure components and the weight or mole fractions, as appropriate.

·         Adjust tabulated values of heats of reaction/vaporization/fusion/etc. for use at other temperatures and pressures.

·         Define heating value.

·         Use Matlab to:

o        Integrate an equation between two limits.

o        Solve a system of non-linear equations.

Exposure

Students completing ChE 201 have gained experience in:

·         Calculating the adiabatic (or theoretical) flame temperature.

·         Searching published material to learn about a manufacturing process.

·         Finding current and historical prices for chemicals.

·         Interpreting a commercial process flow diagram.

·         Discussing the effect of safety concerns on engineering decisions.

·         Discussing the effect of environmental concerns on engineering decisions.

·         Designing a steady-state chemical processes which involves chemical reaction, combustion, mixing, solutions, pressure change, temperature change, phase change, and/or two-component phase equilibrium.

·         Giving an oral presentation on a technical topic.

·         Writing a technical report.